A new fishing industry organisation for the south-east has called for the appointment of a full Cabinet minister with sole responsibility for marine affairs.
The Irish South and East Fishermen's Organisation made its demand at its first meeting in Carlow earlier this month when representatives expressed anger at the recent ministerial shuffle by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. The old Department of Marine and Natural Resources has been merged with Communications and Energy, under the ministry of Mr Dermot Ahern. Fishermen from several ports condemned the action as "economically foolish and totally insensitive to the thousands of Irish people who make their living from the sea".
"In one stroke, the Taoiseach's advisers have done irreparable damage to Ireland's position at the negotiating table in the EU," a spokesman for the new body said. EU member-states are currently in the midst of a review of the controversial Common Fisheries Policy, and Ireland has the second largest sea area in Europe. The Taoiseach's commitment to a junior minister for marine, as appointed yesterday, has done little to assuage concerns about an apparent "downgrading" of the marine Department. It was set up by a Fianna Fáil government in 1987.